An old man asked Musonius what would be the best thing to have on hand for old age. Musonius said:

Live according to nature

The exact same thing that is best for the youth – to live the right way in accordance with nature – is best for old age. You would understand this best if you realize we did not come into existence for pleasure. Neither did horses, dogs, or cows – all of them much less valuable than human beings – come into existence for pleasure. We certainly would not consider that a horse reaches its potential by eating, drinking, and mating as it pleases, and doing none of the things that are proper for fulfilling its function as a horse. Neither would a dog reach its potential if it enjoyed all kinds of pleasures like the horse, but none of the things for which dogs are considered good. In short, nothing can be said to be living according to nature, unless its actions show its excellence according to its own nature. The nature of each guides it to its own excellence.

Don’t live for pleasure alone

Therefore, we can rationally assume that a human being also does not live according to nature when they live for pleasure, but only when they live according to virtue. This is when they deserve praise, and they can rightly think of themselves as hopeful and courageous. A cheerful nature and serene joy habitually go with these attributes. 

Of all the creatures on this earth, only the human being has the image of the divine and has the same virtues as the divine. Even when we think of the gods, we cannot think of characteristics better than intelligence and justice, or than courage and self-control. Therefore, a god, because he has these virtues, is not overcome by pleasure or greed. He is stronger than desire, envy, and jealousy. He is high-minded. He is both the patron and lover of humanity. We believe that a god has these qualities. Therefore, human beings, as they are a copy of the god, must be considered god-like when they act in accordance with nature. It is then that human beings are envied. Because they are envied, they should be happy as well because we don’t envy anyone but the happy. We come across people whom we call holy or god-like, and we don’t need to imagine their virtues come from anywhere other than human nature. 

Nothing will bother you if you live according to nature

Suppose, by good fortune, you take the trouble to get the right education while still young. Suppose you have mastered the lessons that are considered good and put them into practice. In your old age, you would use these lessons to live according to nature. You would not complain about the loss of youthful pleasures, fret at the weakness of your body, or be upset when neighbours overlook you, and friends and relatives neglect you. You would have a good antidote for all these things in your own mind – your past training.

Death is a debt we all owe

On the other hand, suppose you have not received a proper education but are eager for better things and can be swayed by proper teaching. You will benefit if you seek out people whose business it is to know 

• what is helpful and what is harmful to us,
• how we can get what is helpful and avoid what is harmful, and
• how to accept calmly what appears to be bad, but is not really so.

If you are persuaded by these things and act on them – it is no use to hear them if you don’t act on them – you would deal with old age very well. In particular, you would be free from the fear of death, the fear that most disturbs and weighs upon old people, as though they had forgotten that death is a debt that we all owe.

Death is no evil

Yet, I am sure that what makes life miserable for old people is the fear of death. Even the orator Isocrates confessed to this. It is said that, when he was asked how he was doing, Isocrates said he was doing as well as a man who is ninety years old can, but that he considered death to be the worst of all evils. Yet, how could there be any trace of knowledge or familiarity with true good and evil in a person who thought that evil necessarily follows life, even the best-lived one?

The best life, I am sure you’ll agree, is the life of a good man. Yet, even he dies in the end. Therefore, as I said before, if you successfully master this lesson in your old age and accept death boldly without fear, you will have taken an important step towards living without regret and according to nature. You would gain this by associating with philosophers – not just in name, but in truth – as long as you are willing to follow their teachings. 

Wealth is not good protection for old age 

I say that the best thing to have on hand during old age is what I said at the beginning of this lecture – living according to nature, and doing and thinking what is right. An old person who follows this would be cheerful and praised by others and therefore would live happily and honourably. But, anyone who thinks that wealth is the greatest comfort for old people, and those who have it will not be sorry, is mistaken. Wealth lets people enjoy food, drink, and other sensual pleasures, but it would never bring cheerfulness or freedom from sorrow to a wealthy person. Consider how many rich people are full of sadness, despair, and think that they are miserable. Therefore, wealth cannot be a good protection for old age.

Think about this

Wealth lets people enjoy food, drink, and other sensual pleasures, but it would never bring cheerfulness or freedom from sorrow to a wealthy person … Therefore wealth could not be a good protection for old age. - Musonius Rufus

Source

Stobaeus. 4.50.94. Chapter 50: About old age. Part C: That having children is a good thing & 4.27.21. Chapter 27: That old age is not burdensome, and intelligence makes it worthy of much respect
 

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